DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62783#0085
CHAPTER II.
THE DIRECTIONS OF THE MONK THEOPHILUS.
The earliest writer after Pliny and Vitruvius who mentions painting
on walls (for the appellation of fresco was not then applied to it), is
Theophilus, the monk, the author of a treatise entitled, “Diversarum
Artium Schedula,” supposed to have been written in the beginning
of the thirteenth century. Very little is known of the author; it
however appears from his work, that he was extremely well versed
in those branches of the arts of which he treats. The few directions
he has left on this subject are merely as to the painting on walls
and ceilings ; he does not allude to the preparation of the wall,
further than to direct that it should be made quite wet before the
painting is begun.
He distinguishes between such colours as were proper to be used
on walls, and such as were unfit for this purpose. In chapter
xiv, he observes, “ neither orpiment nor any colour with which it is
mixed can be used on wallsin another place, he says, “ Let two
lines be made of equal breadth, one of burnt ochre mixed with lime
(calce), under vermilion on a wall; but, on a ceiling, use vermilion
itself mixed with chalk (creta).”
The following are his directions for painting on a wall. He says,
“ You should fill in the drapery with ochre, mixed with lime, to
give it brilliancy, and make the shades in it either with pure burnt
ochre, or with prasinus,& or with posch,^ which must be made of
the ochre itself mixed with green. The flesh colourc for walls
must be made of ochre, and vermilion, and lime; and the posch,
and rosa,,{ and luminal must be made as before. When figures,
a This prasinus is a certain preparation having the appearance of green and
black. It is prepared by being dissolved in water and strained through a cloth.
It is considered useful as a green colour upon a fresh wall.—Theophilus, c. 2.
b Posch is the colour for the shades, made by adding prasinus and burnt ochre
(rubrum) to the flesh colour.
c Membrana. d Rose colour for lips and cheeks.
e Lumina—flesh colour with white.
c
THE DIRECTIONS OF THE MONK THEOPHILUS.
The earliest writer after Pliny and Vitruvius who mentions painting
on walls (for the appellation of fresco was not then applied to it), is
Theophilus, the monk, the author of a treatise entitled, “Diversarum
Artium Schedula,” supposed to have been written in the beginning
of the thirteenth century. Very little is known of the author; it
however appears from his work, that he was extremely well versed
in those branches of the arts of which he treats. The few directions
he has left on this subject are merely as to the painting on walls
and ceilings ; he does not allude to the preparation of the wall,
further than to direct that it should be made quite wet before the
painting is begun.
He distinguishes between such colours as were proper to be used
on walls, and such as were unfit for this purpose. In chapter
xiv, he observes, “ neither orpiment nor any colour with which it is
mixed can be used on wallsin another place, he says, “ Let two
lines be made of equal breadth, one of burnt ochre mixed with lime
(calce), under vermilion on a wall; but, on a ceiling, use vermilion
itself mixed with chalk (creta).”
The following are his directions for painting on a wall. He says,
“ You should fill in the drapery with ochre, mixed with lime, to
give it brilliancy, and make the shades in it either with pure burnt
ochre, or with prasinus,& or with posch,^ which must be made of
the ochre itself mixed with green. The flesh colourc for walls
must be made of ochre, and vermilion, and lime; and the posch,
and rosa,,{ and luminal must be made as before. When figures,
a This prasinus is a certain preparation having the appearance of green and
black. It is prepared by being dissolved in water and strained through a cloth.
It is considered useful as a green colour upon a fresh wall.—Theophilus, c. 2.
b Posch is the colour for the shades, made by adding prasinus and burnt ochre
(rubrum) to the flesh colour.
c Membrana. d Rose colour for lips and cheeks.
e Lumina—flesh colour with white.
c